St Mary's School 2024-2027 Strategy

Mrs Patricia Adams, Headmistress

Introduction

StMary’sis,quitesimply,awonderfulSchool;itischaracterisedbythewarmthofourcommunity,the ambition and quality of our educational offering and our commitment to achieving success for each individualchild.SettingthestrategicdirectionfortheSchoolandavisionforthefuturehasbeenareal privilege; you will see from the twelve strands of this strategy that our plans are ambitious and wideranging, building on the success already achieved in recent years and on traditions established over the152yearsofourSchool’shistory.

OurvaluesasaSchoolinstrivingforexcellence,indevelopingconfidence,self-esteemandempathyin our students and building a strong partnership with parents, remain unchanged. These character virtues are embedded in the curriculum and form part of the fabric of lessons and co-curricular activities. Most importantly, we want to continue to create an environment where our students feel theycanbethemselvesanddemonstratetheirSMSSpirit!

Of course, we value our student voice; the concept for our new motto, Embrace, Empower, Excel, was spearheaded by the Head Girl Team. It encapsulates our vision for students to embrace the opportunities ahead, to be empowered to discover their intellectual passions and their ambition to excelinalltheydo.

We recognise both our strengths and areas for growth. The wellbeing of students and staff, together with the further enhancement of teaching and learning are at the forefront of our strategy. There is a desire to innovate, to encourage creativity and digital fluency, as well as to promote intellectual curiosityandresilienceand,ofcourse,tofurtherdevelopourestateandlearningenvironment.

Thisstrategybelongstousall,theLeadershipTeam,Governing Body,staff,studentsandtheirfamiliesandprovidesanopportunity foreveryonetoplayanimportantroleinourSchool’svery excitingfuture.

Embrace.Empower.Excel.

AimsandValues

Wearecommittedtoprovidinganexcellenteducationinacaring,happyenvironment,where eachgirldevelopsself-confidenceandachievesherfullpotential.

Weaimtoprovide:

• A stimulating, holistic education which will challenge and excite our pupils, encouraging them to strive for excellenceandleadingtotheacquisitionofknowledge,skills,independence,self-disciplineandacademicsuccess

• A framework of challenge and support, which enables all our pupils to achieve their individual potential and to developpersonalconfidenceandself-esteem

• A full range of opportunities which will enable our pupils, as responsible citizens, to take their place in the world withconfidenceanddiscovertheirownpassionsandinterests

• A value system based on empathy, which recognises and affirms the religious and cultural diversity of our pupils andwidercommunity

• High moral standards in a Christian ethical context, which reflect the School’s Anglican foundation and promote anawarenessoftheneedsofothers

•Thefoundationforanactivepartnershipwithparents,thelocalcommunityandthewiderworld

OurHistory

1872

StMary’sSchoolwas establishedin1872in Paddington,bytheAnglican FoundationofTheSisterofthe CommunityofSt.Marythe Virgin,Wantage

1901

TheAnglicanFoundationoftheSisters relinquishedcontroloftheSchool The extentofthereligiousteachinghas changed,StMary’shasremained committedtothebeliefsandethicsof theChurchofEngland,althoughgirlsof allreligionsanddenominationsare warmlywelcomed

1970

St Mary’s School grew and grew. For a short period in the 1970s boys were admitted up to the age of seven, but that practice stopped and St Mary’s has been an all-girls school since then There was also a period when St Mary’s had a boarding house

1911

Theschool’sfirstmoveandan alterationofname. TheschoolmovedtoLancaster GatewhereitwasknownasSt Mary’sCollege

1937

1937 saw the second move with St Mary’s Junior and Senior Schools relocating to Gerrards Cross, initially based in a house in Orchehill Avenue, before moving to its present more spacious site in Packhorse Road

Likeanyorganisationwithover150yearsofhistory,StMary’shasastrongsenseoftradition Itisourfirmlyheldbeliefthatthisaccumulated experienceprovidesastrongbaseuponwhichtobuildforthefuture.In2016ourmodernSixthFormblockwasopenedand2018heraldedthe latestadditiontoourexcellentfacilitieswiththeopeningofCherryTreeHouse,amodernclassroomblock,housingsixspaciousclassrooms,all equippedwiththelatesttechnology.InSeptember2020,ournewEarlyYearsbuilding,LittleStMary’s,openedandMichaelmasTerm2021saw thecompletionofournewMultiUseGamesArea,completewithfloodlights AtStMary’sweneverstandstillandongoinginitiativesensurethat wecontinuetogrowandthrive TheSummerof2023,sawourdrivewayandturning-circleresurfaced,newcanopiesintheRoseGardenfor outdoordiningandawell-beingpodforstudentuse.WewelcomedAlbertoorBertieasheisknowntotheschoolcommunity,asournew well-beingdog

OurStrategy

1.

4.

Well-beingand Inclusionfor studentsand staff

2.

Teachingand Learning

3.

AnExciting andInspiring Curriculum

Co-curricular, Outreachand Partnerships

6. 5.

Excellent Spacesand Learning Environment

Maximising DigitalLiteracy

9. 8.

Well-beingandInclusionforstudentsandstaff

Wewillworktoensurethatwell-beingandinclusionareattheheartofeverythingwedo,buildingacommunity whereeveryoneisseen,heardandunderstood.

Priorities:

Reviewthestructuresandsystemsthatmay impactwell-beingandinclusion,toestablish acomprehensivecultureofwell-being

Providespace,bothphysicalandmental,for studentsandstafftobeempoweredtobe themselvesandexperienceatruesenseof belonging

TeachingandLearning

Createadynamicandfocusedprogramme,whichenableseachmemberofteachingstafftofurtherdeveloptheir craft,sostudentsmakeexcellentprogressandenjoytheirlearning.

Priorities:

ContinuetoenhancetheCPDprogramme,withafocusonexcellentsubject andcurriculumknowledge,toinvestinexpertteachers,realiseourstrategic directionandenactourcharactercurriculuminordertopositivelyimpact studentoutcomes

Promoteanunderstandingof,andresponsibilityfor,promotinghighstandards ofliteracyandarticulacywhatevertheteacher’sspecialistsubject

Refiningexcellenceinteachingthroughanongoingconversationaboutthe principlesofresponsiveandadaptiveteachingsothatallstudentsarethinking, makingmeaningandpracticing

Promotestudentautonomyandagency,developingmetacognitiveawareness instudentssothattheyunderstandhowtoimprovetheirownlearning

Provideautonomyforcolleaguespursuingtheirownprofessionalinterests, whilstensuringthattheirlearninghasadirectimpactonbothpupil outcomes,andthedepartment,achievedthroughacultureofopennessand sharing

AnExcitingandInspiringCurriculum

Wewillprovideanexcitingandinspiringcurriculumthatenablesstudentstoembracetheirtalents,become empoweredthroughtheirknowledgeandlearning,andensuresthattheyexcelacademically

Priorities:

Deviseandcreateaninspiringcurriculumthatensures stretchandchallengeforallstudents,enablingthemto flourishasindividualsinamodernworldandbefuture ready.

Developopportunitieswithinthecurriculumtobuild socialawarenessandresponsibility,andunderstanding oftheuseoftechnologyinempoweringlivesforthe future.

Co-curricular,OutreachandPartnerships

Providingenriching,inspiringandexcitingopportunitiesforourstudentstobuildconfidence,exploretheir passionsandfindjoyandfulfilmentinworkingwithothers

Priorities:

Providehighqualityleadershipandpresentationopportunitieswhichempowerourstudentstotaketheleadand enacttheirvoiceandopinion

Ensurethatthereareopportunitiesforalltotakepartandforstudentstoachieveoutstandingoutcomes

Reviewandrefinetheprogrammeregularlyformaximumbenefittoeachstudentincludingbothpracticaland academicoptions

Ensurethatstudentsexperienceanddiscoverthecontributiontheycanmakeinthelocalcommunityandthe widerworldbybeingengagedincommunityprojectsandpartnerships

ExcellentSpacesandLearningEnvironment

TheSchool’sEstateisoneofitsmostvaluableassets.Theschooltakesprideinitsenvironmentandthe EstatesStrategyseekstoreflectthisbyprovidingawelcoming,open,yetsecureestateforall.

Schoolwillofferup-to-date urricularandco-curricular ganexpandeddininghalland eaaswellasnewstateofthe derangeofsubjectsincluding, music,drama,andsports.

MaximisingDigitalLiteracy

Ensurethattechnologyisusedininnovativewaystoenhancelearningandworkingliveswhilstatthesametimevaluing traditionalteachingmethodsandtimeawayfromscreens.

Priorities:

Worktowardsintroducingaprogrammeof school-providedlaptops,beginningwithatrialfor Years6and7

Reviewtheuseoftechnologyinlessons,including areviewclassroomequipmentandstudentuseof screentime

TailoredEducationalExcellenceforSENDstudents

Attheheartoftheschool'scultureandethosliesasteadfastcommitmenttoSEND.

Weunderstandthatthestrengthofourcommunityisamplifiedwheneverystudentisgiventhetoolstosucceedina supportiveandrespectfulenvironment.

Priority:

Understandandmeettheuniquerequirementsofall studentswithinourschool,inrelationtocommunicating andinteracting;cognitionandlearning;social,emotional andmentalhealthdifficulties;andsensoryand/orphysical needs

Workincollaborationwithstudentsthemselves,andtheir parents,sothatallstudentscanaccessastimulatingand well-balancededucationthatchallengesandexcitesthem; areencouragedtostriveforexcellenceandacquireskillsfor independence,self-disciplineandacademicsuccess.

APositiveRecruitmentStrategy

Ensurethattheworkplaceisinspiring,innovativeandsupportive.

Staffwellbeingisacorefocusinallplanning.

Priorities:

Physicallyenhancecommunalspacesforall

Continuetodevelopattractiverecruitmentpromotion materialsandbrochures.Maximisealladvertising opportunitiesincludingschoolwebsite,socialchannels, Pressburst,ISC,GSA,Attain,ISBA

Explorethepossibilitiesforattractiveemployment packagesforallstaff

Innovation

WewilldriveandfosteracultureofinnovationtoensurethatStMary’sisatthecuttingedgeof educationaldevelopment.

Priorities:

Createopportunitiesforthecross-pollinationof ideasandskillsinawiderangeofcurricularandcocurricularareas

Ensurethatstudentsandstaffunderstandhow

innovationworksinpracticeandexplorethebarriers toinnovationaswellasit’sadvantages

MarketingandAdmissions

Wewillensurethatallmarketingandadmissionsactivity promotesclear,deliberateandconfidentmessagesabout ourschool.

Werecogniseandwillpromotethepowerof‘wordof mouth’anddigitalmarketing,especiallytodriveinterestin oureducationaloffer.

AFocusonFutures

Developadedicatedprogrammetof ili d ' id i i h di i i f f h d i

Priorities:

EnsurethatourstudentsareequippedfortheirfuturebeyondtheirtimeatSt Mary's,offeringguidancethatempowersthemtomakeinformedchoices aligningwiththeiraspirations.

Providecareer-orientedsupportduringcriticaltransitionalstages,including decision-makingduringoptionselection,providingcounseland recommendationsregardingvariouspostGCSEandSixthFormpathways, includinguniversity,apprenticeships,directentryintotheworkforce,andgap years.

EnsureourapproachfollowstheGatsbyframeworkforGoodCareerGuidance.

Establishconnectionsbetweenacademiclearningandprospectivecareers, ensuringthatstudentsarefullyawareoftheprofessionalavenuestheir educationcanopenfortheminthefuture.

PastoralCare

Provideexcellentpastoralsupportthatdevelopsandmaintainsstudents’personal,socialandacademiccapabilitiesand fosterspositiveattitudes,therebysupportingallourstudentstoflourishanddeveloppersonalconfidenceandself-esteem.

Priorities:

Embedcharactereducation,focusingontheSMSSpiritcore virtues,sothatitisenactedinallareasofthepastoralsystem.

Ensurethateverystudentfeelsthattheyareavaluedmember oftheStMary’scommunity,allowingthemtoengagewith, anddevelopasenseofresponsibilitytowards,thecommunity towhichtheybelong.

Establishacultureofprofessionalexcellenceinthepastoral systemsothatstafffeelconfidentintheirroleinsupporting studentsandarevaluedforthepastoralaspectoftheirrole.